MLB: Rays pitcher Austin Pruitt to have number retired at College Park

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The first Major League Baseball player in College Park High School history will be honored Friday night.

During halftime of the College Park-Conroe boys basketball game, Austin Pruitt will have his No. 1 jersey he wore while playing for the Cavaliers officially retired.

The game is set to start at 7 p.m.

Pruitt, currently a pitcher on the 25-man roster for the Tampa Bay Rays, was a part of College Park's second graduating class in 2008 and played for current Cavaliers coach Jason Washburn.

After high school, Pruitt went to Navarro Junior College and was a part of the 2011 JUCO World Series championship team. Pruitt pitched nine innings in the final game, but received a no decision before the Bulldogs won it in the 10th inning.

Pruitt then transferred and played two seasons at the University of Houston. In his senior year in 2013, Pruitt led the Cougars in wins with 10, earned run average at 2.85 and strikeouts with 92.

He was then selected in the ninth round of the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft by the Rays.

After spending the rest of 2013 through 2016 in the minors, Pruitt made the Rays 25-man Opening Day roster to start the 2017 season.

He went on to pitch 83 innings in 30 games (eight starts) and had a 7-5 record. His first win came in relief against the Detroit Tigers on April 19 and his second came three days later against the Houston Astros.

Pruitt made his first career start July 28 at Yankees Stadium and started Aug. 2 at Minute Maid Park against the Astros where he earned the win on 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball.